So I put it all together But when I plugged it in to test it all I get is a hum. If however I put my finger on the point where the negative of the 9V battery is soldered to the ring I get the a clean guitar sound coming through the under but still under the loud hum. There doesn't seem to be any fuzz and the fuzz pot doesn't change anything, onl the volume does.

I wasn't sure about what to connect the input and outputs to so that might be the start of the problem.. anyone?

just remember, whatever is wrong, you can figure it out. follow logical steps, read the guides, you can do it! if you get frustrated, take a break but keep your eye on the finished result. it is so exciting when you finally get to hear something you made yourself roar

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my life is a tribute to the the great men and women who held this country together when the world was in trouble. my debt cannot be repaid, but i will do my best.

Voltage at the circuit board end of the red battery lead = 8.86Voltage at the circuit board end of the black battery lead =0

Q1C =8.55B =0E =0

Q2C=8.7B=8.5 E=

and just after this, I checked the voltages of the others again and they're all 0, not sure what happened. Maybe faulty meter.. but didn't manage to get emitter of Q2

Also, I changed the 20uF capacitor to a 22uf because I couldn't find a 20. And the layout of the PCB is very much thrown together according to the circuit diagram, couldn't copy one because of the sort of circuit board I used

ok, go back to the troubleshooting guide. track every trace, test each one for correct connection, and also test for things connecting that should not connect. this is where the problems are. forget voltages for a minute til you do this. something is shorted or not connected right.

Logged

my life is a tribute to the the great men and women who held this country together when the world was in trouble. my debt cannot be repaid, but i will do my best.

ok, go back to the troubleshooting guide. track every trace, test each one for correct connection, and also test for things connecting that should not connect. this is where the problems are. forget voltages for a minute til you do this. something is shorted or not connected right.

Okay so the meter problem is fixed, and same measurements, VERY little voltage on the base of Q1 but not 0V as I said before. Same again, The 100K, Fuzz pot and 2.2 cap are all connected properly. I will try replacing Q1 with a new one and see what the voltage is then.

Not to be overly picky, but what's the value of the fuzzpot ? Count the number of connections at 1 node [pick node 1 to check on], and note the polarized markings of the schematic of any components with a lead to that node. Use the DMM to count the node connections on your board, observe polarity wherever there is a marking which 'doesn't turn around like TOT', ie if one side has an arrow or a line or a _ or a + marking...count it as as relevant as anything. Starting at the battery clip node might be a good place, see that every node past a battery pole [note polarity] actually makes a connection to, or 'through to' the board...trace each side of the PS through whatever it goes through [shown on schematic]. Measure every resistor [they help set up/adjust DC bias], I used 470k instead of 470 in a few FF's.

Not to be overly picky, but what's the value of the fuzzpot ? Count the number of connections at 1 node [pick node 1 to check on], and note the polarized markings of the schematic of any components with a lead to that node. Use the DMM to count the node connections on your board, observe polarity wherever there is a marking which 'doesn't turn around like TOT', ie if one side has an arrow or a line or a _ or a + marking...count it as as relevant as anything. Starting at the battery clip node might be a good place, see that every node past a battery pole [note polarity] actually makes a connection to, or 'through to' the board...trace each side of the PS through whatever it goes through [shown on schematic]. Measure every resistor [they help set up/adjust DC bias], I used 470k instead of 470 in a few FF's.

The fuzz pot is an A1K pot. Sorry didn't understand much of you're advice about nodes :/. I just measured every resistor and they are what they should be according to the schematic, are you recommending I need to replace the 330?

Hi Caseyf,I made this video a few weeks back. Its part of my "how to build a guitar pedal" series of videos and is aimed at newcomers to the diy stompbox world. Its some of the troubleshooting steps i use to fixing effect problems, both wired up inside an enclosure, and circuit testing. Anyway, check it out, i hope it sets you on the path to solving the problem!Paul

Hi Caseyf,I made this video a few weeks back. Its part of my "how to build a guitar pedal" series of videos and is aimed at newcomers to the diy stompbox world. Its some of the troubleshooting steps i use to fixing effect problems, both wired up inside an enclosure, and circuit testing. Anyway, check it out, i hope it sets you on the path to solving the problem!Paul

Okay, I just made a completely new one, new board and components because I had spare. New boards much more neat and laid out better than the last one. EXACT same problem. Not enough voltage on the base of Q1(there is 0.1V). So if I managed to get the exact same problem when making it twice does that mean the schematic isn't correct? Like I need to change some components??

Okay, I just made a completely new one, new board and components because I had spare. New boards much more neat and laid out better than the last one. EXACT same problem. Not enough voltage on the base of Q1(there is 0.1V). So if I managed to get the exact same problem when making it twice does that mean the schematic isn't correct? Like I need to change some components??

that schematic is good, so sadly, it seems you're making the same mystery mistake as before.

I just realized (unless I missed it) that you haven't told us what transistors you were using...or whether you measured their gains.

...and we still need all voltages for both transistors....and of course, pics always help.